{application | paradisa}

[shallwe]

PERSONAL
NAME: Crystal
PERSONAL JOURNAL: nerdangel
EMAIL: octoberrain08 @ gmail
AIM: kyotoshowgirl
CURRENT CHARACTERS: n/a


CHARACTER
CHARACTER NAME: Haytham Kenway
SERIES: Assassin's Creed
CANON POINT: June 17, 1778 after Connor decides to be a big baby about Washington. (post-Sequence 10's Broken Trust)
LOSS: Haytham's loss will be all memories pertaining to Charles Lee. Senpai will never notice him now. Charles is Haytham's right-hand man/successor. So, he's pretty obviously a fairly important person to Haytham. As far as Haytham is concerned, it will probably frustrate him to no end that he knows there's someone he doesn't remember, but he can't make himself remember no matter how hard he tries. It's also likely to have an impact on his relationship with his son since aside from squabbling about Assassin vs. Templar philosophy, Charles Lee has always been a sore point between the two of them. So yeah. Interesting all around. B)

ABOUT THE CHARACTER:

Prior to the death of his father, Haytham was raised as an Assassin (though unknowingly). As such, his father trained him not just in swordplay, but also in thinking. Haytham was taught to question everything and to not simply accept someone's word as truth. When Reginald Birch took Haytham under his wing, Haytham was immediately attracted to the Templar way because it was far more black and white than what his father had presented him with. But Haytham didn't experience a massive crisis of faith or agonize over his decision to join the Order because it was still his decision. In a way, he was still upholding his father's beliefs because he was questioning his father and he's managed to hold fast to his beliefs in the Order - order, purpose, direction and all that good stuff is the way to peace not that silly freedom bullshit the Assassins keep trying to pass off as anything other than chaotic - ever since.

As he trained, Haytham became an efficient killer. He was able to get in, take out his target, and leave without being detected. But more importantly, Haytham once held onto a code as far as killing was concerned. Haytham never approved of the brutality and indiscriminate killing Braddock employed when he was with the Order and when Braddock's loyalties eventually drifted away. In his later years, however, Haytham started to adopt the notion that the ends justify the means. The more Haytham saw of people - such as what became of his half-sister, what happened to Holden, and the numerous betrayals of people he once trusted - the more convicted he became in his beliefs that humanity was ultimately weak and needed to be controlled in order to achieve peace.

As far as the way Haytham presents himself, he can be best summed up by a single word: aristocrat. He's congenial and charming when he wants to be and still has some of that same charisma he was outright oozing with when he was younger. (Lee-kouhai really wanted Kenway-sempai to notice him.) As a result, Haytham didn't have a very hard time befriending people or making them feel at ease with him because he knows how to move about in a social sense. Not much of that is happening in his twilight years, but Haytham is far less concerned with making friends than he is meeting his goals so it's just a skill that's not as handy as it used to be. Haytham does still hide much of himself from others, however. It's not that he doesn't have emotions, he just prefers to filter them as much as possible. Part of it is out of politeness and what's proper in particular social contexts, but part of it is also incredibly manipulative. Although Haytham does still retain a belief in honesty, he has much fewer qualms about withholding information in his later years because he recognizes that it gives him the upper hand. Even the most carefully laid plans - of which Haytham has many because he's a smart and calculating man who tries to abstain from being impulsive - require leverage if they're going to be successful. So, what's a little callousness and lying? It's for the greater good, so it's fine.

There are times, however, when Haytham has difficulty hiding his emotions. One such example is when Connor informs Haytham of Ziio's death and he does display a moment of legitimate regret and sadness to hear of it. Haytham had, in fact, loved her in his own way at one point. And while many decades had gone by, Haytham still did wonder aloud about what might have been. Partially, of course, to manipulate Connor, but also out of genuine thought. Another is just, well, get him started about the Order. Not much else will get under Haytham's skin enough to have an open display of anger, but he speaks with such passion about his beliefs and the Templar ideology that his temper quick to flare in response to it being questioned/opposed. That said, Haytham can also be ridiculously scathing and sarcastic. Especially when it comes to a certain someone.

Speaking of that certain someone, Haytham's relationship to Connor is best described as an antagonistic distant relation. Although father and son stand at very opposite ends of the paradigm and Haytham recognizes Connor as an obstacle to achieving his goals, Haytham does not actively wish ill upon his son. He actually makes attempts to reconcile with him arguing with him literally to the death about why the philosophy/stance of the Templars is far greater and all around better than the philosophy/stance of the Assassins. Granted, Haytham is still taking an all-or-nothing stance and really he needs/wants Connor's agreement (because to Haytham, there's no way the Assassins and Templars can ever unite), but this is a man who kills with little discrimination these days. The fact he's not just purely making attempts on Connor's life speaks to more of a basic care toward Connor in that he wants to save his son from what Haytham believes to be naive and overly idealistic beliefs about the world/humanity. In a really weird and twisted way, Haytham is looking out for Connor in just about the only way he knows how - passing along his father's teachings about questioning things. Just don't question him, okay? Father knows best. Sssshhh.

In short, a very dramatic statement about Haytham Kenway would be that he is someone who has been forged in violence, betrayal, and suffering going all the way back to when his father was killed and his childhood home burned. But a little less dramatic, he is someone who has witnessed a great deal of loss and betrayal and because he has seen these uglier sides to humanity, he clings to the rigid black & white thinking of the Order to the point you could very well label him a zealot. As a result, Haytham has abandoned his earlier code when it comes to violence and is far less discriminant in who he opts to kill. Likewise, Haytham has shut himself off from most people and feels only a minimal amount of care towards his son. It's enough that he feels as though he needs to save Connor while also trying to respect Connor's wish to sever ties with one another all the same. There are, however, still shades of a younger Haytham to be seen. Haytham is still intelligent and cunning and he can still command. He could even still be congenial and friendly if he wanted to be with others. But much of this is overshadowed by the violence he's mired himself in and his willingness to do whatever it takes to achieve his goals regardless of who suffers or dies as a consequence.

ABILITIES:

Freerunning/Stealth: Haytham might be getting up there in age, but he hasn't really slowed down all that much as far as his parkour skills are concerned. He can scale buildings stealthily like it's nobody's business. Haytham is also adept at picking locks and pockets when the need for it arises. Or if there's no time for that, you can always just football tackle him through any door. He makes a pretty useful battering ram, okay.

Combat: Trained in swordsmanship since he was old enough to hold a wooden sword, Haytham is an incredibly skilled in close quarters - both armed or unarmed. Haytham also is not a bad shot with a pistol or musket. He also doesn't have much of a problem in terms of improvising if need be. So basically, you have a quick thinker who's adaptable in a fight and decent with pretty much any weapon you put in his hands. He is, again, getting up their in years, but he's still a formidable opponent.

Eagle Vision: Because Haytham comes from a bloodline that's got First Civ/Those Who Came Before/Precursor blood in it, he also possesses Eagle Vision. This is essentially a sixth sense in which Haytham can read the intentions of people around him. It makes for quick identification of friendlies, enemies, neutrals, and targets with handy-dandy color-coding.

THIRD-PERSON WRITING SAMPLE:

The knee jerk response to want to follow Connor is not one that Haytham would categorizing as strictly or necessarily paternal in nature. He knows the truth can often be a difficult to accept. He expected no less when the scales fell from Connor's eyes and he saw his so-called allies for what they really were. What rational man wouldn't react with anger? Betrayal is, after all, nasty business and intolerable. Haytham had simply not expected so much of it directed at him. He didn't expect gratitude, but he had hoped...

No, not hoped. There is little point in putting stock into hope. Hope is always a fool's fancy and leads to little else beyond disappointment. Haytham had wanted for Connor to see the truth of his words. He had. That was the start and the end of the matter. Haytham would not delude himself into believing that it was some sort of inevitable event that Connor would come around. Even if he had somehow managed to be blinded by his anger towards Washington, there was no guarantee he would have allowed any forgiveness for Haytham's withholding of information.

Haytham straightens, allowing Washington his papers and ignoring whatever look or comment Washington directs towards him. He watches Connor as he leaves the camp, racing to return to his village and save them in time. It's a hopeless dream his son chases even in the wake of the truth. It is one that Haytham knows will cost Connor more and more the longer he pursues it; that's what he was trying to save him from. But standing there for those brief seconds, Haytham realizes it's a fruitless pursuit for him to try and save Connor from his misconceptions. He must give up.

At least for now.

FIRST-PERSON JOURNAL SAMPLE: Oh no a link!!

INTENT: Does "fucking Kenways" constitute as an answer? It should. Basically this family is stupid and I don't like them. By which I mean, they hurt me and I love them anyway and I'm excited for all the family dynamics. I'm also excited for putting Haytham in an environment in which he does not have his Templar bros to fall back upon because it puts him a little off-kilter, but he can survive it.